I hope you are all doing well. With the omnibus spending bill/possible shutdown coming to the brink this week, there’s a huge amount of activity going on. I have a number of things to share with you, could use some of your feedback, and have a couple reminders too… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (“ERIC”) is pleased to comment on the request for information by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on June 8, 2017, concerning regulatory actions within HHS jurisdiction that could be taken to reduce the burdens of the ACA… More

On November 29 at 9:30am, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing on Alex Azar’s nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Committee hearing is a “courtesy hearing”—it will not be a vote on Azar’s nomination (the Senate Finance Committee is the one that will have to report Azar out to the Senate floor). Azar’s nomination to fill the vacancy left by Secretary Tom Price was announced on November 13 by President Trump… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), along with a robust group of other trade associations representing employers, sent a letter to members of Congress expressing support for legislation that continues funding for the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but also asking that the 178 million Americans who receive health insurance through their employer be provided relief from the ACA… More

More than 50 business organizations sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to protect the employer-sponsored health insurance system by repealing damaging taxes and preserving improvements to consumer-directed health options proposed in the House-passed American Health Care Act … More

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) today submitted a letter to the Senate Finance Committee urging it to use health care reform as a vehicle to improve consumer-driven options for Americans, reduce health care taxes, and improve public sector programs to focus on value… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) is pleased to support the advancement of reconciliation measures collectively referred to as the “American Health Care Act” (AHCA), and urges action in the U.S. Senate to include full and permanent repeal of the dangerous 40 percent “Cadillac” excise tax on employer-sponsored health benefits… More

It’s also been a rather wild one in Washington. We’ve had Senator Randy Paul (R-KY) on his quest to find the “secret bill” to repeal and replace the ACA, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) interrupting hearings to defend the secrecy, and a whole lot of accusations relating to Russia, wire-tapping, slush funds, and other shenanigans… More

Congress is away from DC this week, busy getting brigaded at town hall events. ERIC is continuing our work to shape coming legislation that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), to engage with the new Administration as it continues to staff up, and to represent your interests before the federal agencies as well as Congress… More

ERIC and 26 other associations signed on to a letter sent to the White House National Economic Council and Domestic Policy Council this afternoon urging it to call for full and permanent repeal of the 40 percent “Cadillac Tax” on health benefits and protecting the longstanding tax treatment of employer sponsored coverage… More

ERIC submitted a letter in support of the “Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2017,” legislation that would eliminate the devastating 40 percent excise tax on health benefits imposed by the Affordable Care Act… More

The Nation’s employers provide stable health care benefits to more than 177 million Americans – the largest source of health coverage in the country. Moreover, surveys show that employees and their families value and rely upon the health benefits their employers offer. We strongly urge you to repeal the 40 percent “Cadillac Tax” on health benefits imposed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), and not to take additional action to cap the individual tax exclusion for employer-provided health care benefits, or limit employers’ deductibility of health care expenses… More

Today marks a victory for ERIC. Nine years ago, ERIC began its fight against the 40 percent ‘Cadillac’ excise tax on employer-sponsored health insurance, and strongly supported the 2-year delay contained in the Continuing Resolution… More

As we begin 2018, The ERISA Industry Committee looks forward to working with leadership at the Department of Labor (DOL), including newly confirmed Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Preston Rutledge, to combat the regulatory burdens imposed on companies that sponsor employee benefit plans… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (applauds Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Joe Courtney (D-CT) for reaching a critical milestone on their legislation, the “Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2017” (H.R.173). The bill, which would fully repeal the 40 percent ‘Cadillac’ excise tax on employer-sponsored health insurance, is now cosponsored by more than half of all House members, meaning that if it were brought up for a vote, it is virtually guaranteed to pass. An amendment completely repealing the Cadillac tax was passed in the Senate earlier this year… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), along with a robust group of other trade associations representing employers, sent a letter to members of Congress expressing support for legislation that continues funding for the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but also asking that the 178 million Americans who receive health insurance through their employer be provided relief from the ACA… More

The United States Senate last night missed an extraordinary and historic opportunity to begin fixing our nation’s broken health care system by reducing damaging taxes, empowering patients with improved consumer-driven health options, and stabilizing the individual markets, many of which may currently be in a death spiral… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) is pleased that the Senate’s health care bill recognizes the important role employer-sponsored health insurance plays in providing health benefits to more than 178 million Americans. We appreciate the Senate’s efforts to reduce taxes that are passed on to health care purchasers and consumers, improve consumer-driven health options like Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and prevent cost-shifting by stabilizing the individual markets… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) today submitted a letter to the Senate Finance Committee urging it to use health care reform as a vehicle to improve consumer-driven options for Americans, reduce health care taxes, and improve public sector programs to focus on value… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) supports the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Most important to large employers is the AHCA’s repeal of the cap on the individual tax exclusion for employer-provided health benefits. The repeal was imperative to allowing employers to continue to provide high quality, robust health care benefits for employees, retirees, and their families… More

A national partnership led by two business organizations representing Fortune 500 companies, the Pacific Business Group on Health and The ERISA Industry Committee, announced today the DRIVE Health Initiative, a campaign to accelerate economic growth by controlling health costs and improving quality through the rapid adoption of value-based health care… More

Today’s policy brief from Republicans in the United States House of Representatives was disappointing as it does nothing to clear up questions about the GOP’s plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act or explain how it will be paid for… More

Chairman Alexander, Ranking Member Murray and members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity to submit a statement for the record on behalf of The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), regarding the hearing on stabilizing the individual health insurance market.… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) welcomes the opportunity to work with President Trump and his administration. ERIC, the only national association that advocates exclusively for large employers on health, retirement, and compensation public policies at the federal, state, and local levels, will work with the Trump Administration to protect and support the employer-sponsored benefits system
… More

ERIC submitted a letter in support of the “Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2017,” legislation that would eliminate the devastating 40 percent excise tax on health benefits imposed by the Affordable Care Act… More

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), the only national association that advocates exclusively for large employers on health, retirement, and compensation public policies at the federal, state, and local levels, calls on the NCVHS to recommend that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) immediately halt the implementation of the HPID requirements and clarify that an HPID will not be required for HIPAA standard transaction purposes or for any other regulatory purpose, and that any new requirements should not be applied in the employer-sponsored self-insured group health plan market… More

Chairman Alexander, Ranking Member Murray and members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity to submit a statement for the record on behalf of The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), regarding the hearing on stabilizing the individual health insurance market.… More